nexo TMS Protocol

The nexo TMS protocol is the first international standard for terminal management. This open, universal, non-proprietary TMS standard prevents retailers becoming locked-in to suppliers. It supports mixed estates and allows additional functionality to be incorporated. The ability to delegate authority, allowing multiple parties to fulfill differing aspects of terminal management, is innovative and most helpful to both merchants and merchant acquirers. As an ISO 20022 standard it will ease integration with other card processing systems.

How does it work?

The nexo TMS Protocol provides an interface between a Terminal Management System (TMS) and a payment system. The protocol supports the functions for configuring, managing and maintaining the application parameters, the software and the security keys of a payment system.

The nexo TMS Protocol is based on a set of Terminal Management message definitions, including status report, management plan replacement, acceptor parameters configuration and management delegation.

A Point of Interaction (POI) contains some vendor-specific firmware and application software performing services beyond the pure card payment ones. It also contains electronic keys to ensure the protection of the data exchange by the POI with its external environment. The update of software and the downloading of electronic keys can be carried out either through a direct intervention on the POI itself or remotely by using a distant software application. While most manufacturers of terminals do provide a proprietary tool to achieve this objective, the advantage of relying on an open and common solution, such as the nexo TMS protocol, is to achieve a clear independence between the terminals on the field and their actual management and control at a distance.

Parameters actually influence the behaviour of the POI. In a nexo TMS environment, those parameters are under the control of a Terminal Manager (TM). The TM is itself controlled by a unique Master Terminal Manager (MTM), which has the total control of the POI System in terms of security, applicative, and maintenance services needed to manage a Terminal Management System (TMS). The Master Terminal Manager can delegate part or all of the TMS services to one or several Terminal Managers. Various actors can actually play the role of TM and MTM (for example, a Manufacturer, an Acceptor, an Acquirer, or a third party).

To face critical challenges in today’s global payment ecosystem, multinational retailers, retail banks and payment service providers are looking to gain competitive advantage through service differentiation. To do so, they need to control the maintenance and administration associated with the management of POS terminals, roll out new services rapidly, cutting cost of ownership while eliminating security risks and simplifying worldwide terminal deployment.

Benefits

The benefits of using nexo TMS protocols for Acceptors, PSP or Processors are:

Acquirers Benefits

Central supervision - All the POI connected to the Acquirer could be supervised by only one Terminal Manager

Interoperability - All POI have the same application and the same protocol

Global View - The Acquirer knows in real time the status of each POI (application, system, parameters…)

Quick update processing - It is really easy to supervise and check all the versioning of the POI modules or applications

Agnosticism - Global actions of all the POI independently of the POI brands or operating system

Interchangeability - The Acquirer could change each POI with another without having to take care of the integration process

Acceptors Benefits

Interbankability - Could do a change of an Acquirer quite easily with the same POI

Upscalability - The connectivity of POI could be added/changed quickly (add POI or a group of POI)

Connectivity - The POI could be grouped by cashier lines/shops/activities/regions

Updating - It is simple to add/remove a new card brand or a new merchant application (loyalty, opt in…)

Vendors Benefits

Efficiency - Same “application and protocols” to address all the payment stakeholders

Global - To address all merchants needs in different countries (cross border capabilities)

Controls – Ability to built management tools and help desk value added services for payment stakeholders